The Reptiles and Amphibians of Utah

Description: A smooth-scaled snake with a base color of tan, brown, or gray. The base color often matches the surrounding substrate. Blotches darker than the base color run along the dorsal and are usually tan, brown, or orangish-brown in color. The blotches can sometimes be split and offset giving the dorsal pattern a checkered look.

This snake has vertical pupils and a dark stripe that runs from the eyes connecting at a large blotch at the back of the neck.

This subspecies is distinguished from the Northern Desert Nightsnake by the additional loreal scale located between the eye and the nostril.

Size: A small, slender-bodied snake that averages less than 12 inches in length. Some individuals can exceed 18 inches in length.

Range and Habitat: This subspecies is found throughout most of the Colorado Plateau. It inhabits a wide variety of habitat types including arid and semi-arid regions, desertscrub, semi-desert shrublands, and grasslands. They seem to be more common in rocky areas and are found below 7,000 feet in elevation.

Similar Species: The Painted Desert Glossy Snake is much larger as an adult and has round pupils. 

The Sonoran Lyre Snake has irregular light-centered dorsal blotching and a slender neck.